CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Conflicts are common and unavoidable in all human society. All over the world, conflicts occur because society is made up of people with differing interests and values. In most societies, conflicts occur when parties in a state of independence perceives divergent views or believe that their aspirations or goals cannot be achieved simultaneously. Therefore, it is only natural that where there is inequality in access to the control of natural resources and political power for instance, there would be discontent, opposition and controversy.

Africa is a vast continent with different peoples and cultures. There has been increasing number of violent conflicts in Africa, especially during the end of the cold war. A number of violent conflicts have erupted in both developed and developing countries, inflicting sufferings and pains on the people and placing enormous stress on the environment. African countries are plagued by the crisis of Perverted religion, sectional and political upheavals.

Africa is perhaps the most devastated by internal conflicts and with catastrophic consequences. Introducing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) mechanism for preventing, managing and resolving conflicts to the OAU council of ministers at Dakar, Senegal, in 1992, the then General secretary Salim Ahmed Salim, emphasized that:

“Conflicts have cast a dark shadow over the prospects for a united, secure and prosperous Africa

which we seek to create…. Conflicts have caused

immense suffering to our people and, in the worst

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case, death. Men, women and children have been uprooted, dispossessed, deprived of their means of livelihood and thrown into exile as refuges as a result of conflicts. Conflicts have engendered hate and division among our people and undermined the prospects of the long term stability and unity of our countries and Africa as a whole. Since much energy, time and resources have been devoted to meeting the exigencies of conflict, our countries have been unable to harness the energies of our people and target them to development.

These conflicts have been fuelled by uncontrolled accumulation and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, begetting increased criminality, banditry, cross-border crime and emergence of the phenomenon of child soldiers. Though internal, most of these conflicts spill over into neighboring countries causing wide spread of regional insecurity and instability despite the presence of the United States‟ conflict resolution processes and all other peace keeping actors.

Given the number of conflicts in sub Saharan Africa, it is not surprising that they cumulatively have claimed at least 7-8 million lives. Also, in 2001, more than 3.5 million of the more than 14 million refugees and asylum seekers in the world were in Africa.

In this stead, conflict resolution is needed and put into action by different bodies or parties including governmental organisations and non-governmental organisations. Conflict

Resolution otherwise known as reconciliation, is conceptualised as methods processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of the group (e.g., intentions; reasons for holding certain beliefs), and engaging in collective negotiation.

There are wide ranges of methods and procedures for addressing conflict exist, including but not limited to, negotiation, mediation, diplomacy, and creative peace building.

1.2       STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Conflict in the framework of this thesis refers to a clash between two parties and can be further categorised as inter-state conflict, defining disputes between two nations, and intra-state or state formation conflict, which is often characterised by civil war and other forms of conflict within the state borders. Conflict resolutions describe the resolving of a conflict, rather than managing or transforming conflict, and can be understood as a process or outcome. Because it focuses on the root causes of the conflict, and the consideration of the needs and worldviews of all involved parties, conflict resolution has a highly sustainable aspect. External actors can facilitate the peace process by acting as neutral mediators and creating an environment conducive to balanced power.

1.3       OBJECTIVE OF STUDY

·            To examine the United States role in conflict resolution in Africa.

·            To know examine the principles of United States policies on conflict resolution in Africa.

·            To review the United States support for peacekeeping in Africa.

·            To review United States operations to foster peace in Africa.

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1.4       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

·           What are the principles of United States conflict resolution in Africa?

·         How effectively has the United States been able resolve conflicts in Africa?

·         Is the United States‟ conflict resolution in Africa a form of investment for later reaping?

1.5       SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

·            The study will also be useful to future researchers in their research on this topic or another similar to this.

·            The study is significant in the sense that it will add to the existing knowledge of individuals on the different questions asked by lay men and elites, questions like “Is it possible for conflicts and crisis to be eradicated in Africa?”

1.6       RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

1.6.1     METHOD OF DATA GATHERING

The method used in gathering data of study is mainly library research and discourse with some informed individuals on the subject matter. A further material was sourced through articles posted online by U.S journalists.